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ROYAL BURGH of WIGTOWN & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING HELD IN THE COUNTY BUILDINGS, WIGTOWN, ON MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2015 [email protected] www.WigtownCC.org.uk PRESENT Matt Kitson Convenor Jak Kane Secretary David Moran David McAdam Willie McCartney Jock McDowall Robin Richmond Nick Walker Joe McKeown IN ATTENDANCE Kerr Inger William Lindsay Police Cllr Alistair Geddes Cllr Jim McColm Louise Kerr, Galloway Gazette David McKay Wigtown Free Press APOLOGIES Cllr G Nicol Prior to the start of the meeting, the Community Council presented an engraved vase to Betty McGowan MBE to mark the substantial efforts she had contributed to the community over the years and her retiral after some 35 years of service to the Community Council. Although lost to the Community Council, she is still fully involved in other community projects in Wigtown such as Wigtown in Bloom and the Community Shop. 1 WELCOME, APOLOGIES AND CALL FOR URGENT OTHER BUSINESS Matt Kitson welcomed all to the meeting and acknowledged apologies for absence from Cllr Nicol. It was also noted that the Wigtown Community Festival Photo Competition should be included as ‘Other Business’. 2 POLICE MATTERS The Police were pleased to report that there had been no major incidents of police concern in Newton Stewart or Wigtown in the preceding month. There had also been no issues with parking during the Literary Festival although some young people were guilty of mischievously switching off the power to the lights in the main marquee on the opening night. 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (Monday, 14 September 2015) The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated and were adopted; proposed by Jock McDowall and seconded by Nick Walker. 4 UPDATES & REPORTS A: Consultations WP Jak Kane had circulated a report prior to the meeting (see Appendix A). Report approved. Jak Kane explained that the report contained details of a number of online surveys that had been initiated by DGC and were targeted at individuals or, in the case of the Education Service Review, at parents and staff members. These surveys included: Dumfries & Galloway Community Engagement, where the Council wanted to find out what the community thinks of its work with engagement so far and what it thinks they could do better; A Cultural Strategy for Dumfries & Galloway, a survey that will inform the Cultural Strategy by ascertaining what stakeholders think and believe in relation to Culture; Proposals identified from 2-18 Structural Delivery Service Review of Education, consultation on the areas looked at and the proposed savings that will identify £3.4M savings by 2017/18 from a Service Review of all the Education Services for children Royal Burgh of Wigtown & District Community Council from the age of 2 to 18 across all Dumfries and Galloway; and, Community Safety Survey, consultation to help direct the priorities of the Community Safety Partnership by telling them what issues affect the community and how they can improve their overall service. A copy of the Community Council’s draft response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s (LGBCS) Ward boundary proposals in Dumfries and Galloway had also been circulated prior to the meeting (see Appendix B). It was agreed that the response could be sent to LGBCS as it fairly represented the Community Council’s position. The report also contained details of forthcoming consultations: DGC’s Health and Social Care Integration – Locality Consultation due to be launched on 19 October and; the Scottish Government’s 2015 consultation on Management of Inshore Special Areas of Conservation and Marine Protected Areas, originally scheduled for Summer 2015 and now expected Autumn 2015. B: Planning WP A report had been previously circulated by Nick Walker (see Appendix C). Report approved. Extension to Workshop, Unit 2A, Bladnoch Bridge Industrial Estate – Nick advised that there were currently two objections lodged in connection with this proposal with grounds of it being a steel framed building within a Conservation area and car parking impeding access. It was agreed that Nick should contact the Planning Department to advise that the Community Council would like to submit a response but would like some time to allow formal consultation. If a response was needed before the next CC meeting on 9 November, the Planning WP would consult by email to agree a position. ACTION NICK WALKER Shennanton Windfarm – Willie McCartney had attended the CLG meeting on 6 October. It had been announced that the proposed development had been taken over by a Canadian company, Brookfield, who had acquired all of PNE’s project pipeline. Brookfield had said that it would welcome sponsorship/grant opportunities in addition to the community benefit offer pending any potential commissioning of the wind farm. Awards would be in the region of a few hundred pounds and it was suggested that the Community Council could look for help with Christmas lights and electrics. C: Louis McGuffie VC Commemoration Working Group Nick Walker had circulated the minutes of the Group’s meeting held on 21 September. He explained that the new site proposed for the commemorative paving stone would allow it to be visible on entering the town gardens even when the Book Festival’s principal marquee was in place. Meetings to discuss the town gardens' gateway would be arranged with Steven Dowling and the Planning Officer. DG First would be proceeding with the resiting of the bus shelter and related works once the tender process had been completed. The next meeting of the Working Group was scheduled for January 2016. ACTION NICK WALKER/WILLIE McCARTNEY 5 CARSEGOWAN PLANNING ISSUE William Lindsay had written to the Community Council re his concern that a potential purchaser of one of his buildings claimed that he had been told by a planning officer that planning permission for development of the building would be refused. Mr Lindsay attended the Community Council meeting to further expound on his frustrations and provide some background information. As statutory consultees, the Community Council could not do more than share Mr Lindsay’s concern at the alleged stance of the Planning Officer. It was suggested that he should seek a meeting with Council members and perhaps a preplanning enquiry meeting with Planning Officers. 6 TASKS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Education Issue – Wigtown Area Committee had convened a Community Meeting for Thursday, 5 November when DGC’s Education Services would provide an update on the implementation of the agreed Committee recommendations from the Supporting Learners Service Review, and a chance to discuss how best to share information with parents. This was in addition to the aforementioned consultation on the proposals from the 2-18 Structural Delivery Service Review. Youth Representation – Kerr Inger had been nominated as Community Councillor in the recent election but his nomination had been rejected because he was allegedly not included on the Electoral Roll despite having been registered for the recent referendum. It was agreed that this was Royal Burgh of Wigtown & District Community Council disappointing given the Community Council’s long-held desire to have youth representation. It was agreed that Nick Walker would contact the Council’s Area Framework team to resolve the situation. ACTION NICK WALKER Community Resilience – Nick had met with DGC’s Wendy Jessop to discuss the Resilience Plan. With the prospect of additional resilience equipment being acquired and the need to store it somewhere accessible in Wigtown, it was agreed that an investigation into the potential siting of a storage container in the Lorry Park should be started. Nick undertook to contact DGC’s Planning Department to determine the possibility and process of planning permission for such a project ACTION NICK WALKER Wigtown Parking & Bus Stop – As per Louis McGuffie report. Derelict Properties –.28 North Main Street: Cllr Geddes advised that Jim O’Neill of DGHP had confirmed that Listed Building Planning permission for the work had been awarded subject to a redesign of doors/windows. DGHP had to take procurement advice on the retender process and with anticipated increase in costs, the revised scheme would need reapproval by DGHP board at its next meeting in 4-6 weeks’ time. 24 High Street: There had been no progress with work to address the issues associated with the property despite the ongoing assurances of the owner’s son. Cllr Geddes had once more urged the Council to start the relevant Regulatory process by issuing a Section 179 Notice and contacting RSLs to gauge their interest in taking over the property. Cllr Geddes considered it unacceptable that the situation remained unchanged since the initial meeting in December 2014. Minutes Secretary – There had still been no response to posters advertising the position. Wigtown Fairtrade – No update Remembrance Day - Nick confirmed that the wreaths had been received with the wreaths for Masonic Lodge and Kirkinner community given to Willie McCartney and Jak Kane respectively for distribution. It was agreed that Matt would collate the programme for the Remembrance ceremony and Nick should make efforts to secure a piper for the ceremony. ACTION MATT KITSON/NICK WALKER Community Council Elections – DGC had confirmed that 10 candidates nominated for the Community Council had been elected unopposed as the number of valid nominations was less than the number of places available. These individuals would assume office as elected Community Councillors on 23 October 2015. Core Path – Joe McKeown confirmed that he had been in contact with Richard Masters, DGC Access Officer. It had been arranged for the walk to be restored once the landowner had repaired a fence to make it stock proof. 7 CHRISTMAS Matt Kitson advised that Wigtown Festival Company had confirmed it would again be organising its Winter Kist and he had been in touch with Creetown Silver Band re its participation in the community events.

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